Kansas State has some questions surrounding their team heading into the 2024 season. A lot of people are seriously questioning the offensive line and whether it will come together, and a lot of people are questioning the defense as a whole, but one question that isn't being asked enough is how the wide receivers will perform.
The wide receiver core this season will be Penn State transfer Dante Cephas, Keagan Johnson, and Jayce Brown. Cephas and Johnson come into this season with more than one year of experience while Brown comes in with limited reps last season, but a stellar bowl game performance.
If there is one player in this wide receiver core that is the most intriguing, it is Jayce Brown. Brown is coming onto the scene as a young wide receiver and he is ready to make a name for himself.
In the Pop-Tarts Bowl, Brown was able to shine with Ben Sinnott and Phillip Brooks gone to the NFL Draft. With Avery Johnson behind center, Brown was able to rack up a state line of 5 receptions for 52 yards and one touchdown. Brown was the leading receiver with the most yards and receptions and was Johnson's favorite target.
The Avery Johnson to Jayce Brown connection seals the bowl game victory
— The Kansas State Fan (@Thekstatefan) January 5, 2024
vs NC State pic.twitter.com/wyyBMiQ0P5
Brown is coming in with probably the strongest connection with Johnson being in the same class and being the same age. They showed a great connection in the Pop-Tarts and Brown's ability to run routes effectively and have a large catch radius will help make up for the loss of Sinnott this season.
Sinnott had the bulk of the receptions in 2023 as he was the safest option to throw too with his reliability to catch the ball. If Brown can learn from that and turn into a receiver that may not be as big as Sinnott, but can catch the ball like he did, Brown can make a serious name for himself.
Because we all need it right now, here’s Avery Johnson to Jayce Brown from Jayce’s Instagram story. pic.twitter.com/FPk8YEm6j0
— John Kurtz (@jlkurtz) March 21, 2024
Keagan Johnson and Dante Cephas are great receivers and have good experience, but with Avery Johnson as the starter, K-State is showing their youth and if they want to build around Johnson for years to come, younger players might be the way to go.
In his freshman season, Brown had 437 yards on 27 receptions adn averaged a monster 16.2 yards per catch with three touchdowns. Brown is a serious deep threat and Johnson will finally have his time to show off his arm strength along with his running ability.
Not many people know who Brown is just yet, but by the end of the season, he is one name a lot of people could fear.